Signature-gatherer.



No. 761,496. BATENTED MAY 31, 1904. c. A. JUENGST- SIGNATURE GATHBRER. 'APPLIOAT`ION FILED MAY 15. 1901.

N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-s111531' 1.

ilv EES. .OCM/M /1 6&2 JMW.

No. 761,496. l

f c; A. JUENGST.

SIGNATURE GATHERBR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1901.

yNo MODEL. asuma-snm: z. v

Il ESES: l2/m l PATBNTED MAY 31, 1904.

- UNITED VSTATE-s i IiPatented'May 3.1,v 1904.

.PATENT OFFICE.

SIGNATURE-GATHERER.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,496, dated. May 31, 1904.

Application iiiedpnay 15, 1901.

lBe it known that I, CHARLES A. J nnNes'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crovton Falls, in 'the'county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented. certain newl and useful Improvements in Signature-Gatherer's, of which the following is a specification.

The objectof this invention'is to detect signatures or sheets'whichfor any reason are imperfect, reversed, or are variationsv from the predetermined thickness and to immediately act upon 4devices to st op the machine, so

that the saine'may be removed or rectified.

My invention comprises, in a signature-v gatherer and 1n combination with as topping and starting mechanism and a signature-gripper of any well-known or desired-character,- a device intermediate of said devices, which is actuated' and controlledby the latter or signature-gripper device` and which exercises a control upon the former ldevice--that is, the de- Vice for stopping and starting the machine" whereby variations fromy the predetermined -thickness of the signature-or sheet act upon the aforesaid intermediate device for their detection andstopping the machine. I prefer that this intermediate device sha1-l be in the form of adjustable plates mounted upon'an -ar-m that is adapted to be moved into contact with thestopping and starting mechanism `and that an arm and finger moved by the gripper device shall move over' the surfaceof these plates and pass through a regulatable aperture between the. same, providing the sheets and signatures agree in thickness, and in case they do not agree andare too thick or too` thin this fingerl shall stop on the surface.v of said plates and .with the further movement of thel gripperrstop the machine,` and. in connection with these devices I employ meansfor adjusting the closed relation 4ofy the gripper-jaws in proportion to the thickness ofl the signature or sheet, this adjustment acting to control the serai No. 60,345. (No meer Fig. 2 is a vertical section and side elevation at a different point of the machine, so as to illustrate the parts which may fully comprise the stopping and starting mechanism. Fig. 3 is an elevation from the back,v showing the gage-lever and its relative position to the beltshifting rack.' Fig. l1 is a top plan View showing part of the main gripper rock-shaft and' its auxiliary shaft. Fig.v 5 is an elevation at the back ofA thel signature-detainer and parts associated therewith, showing an elevation o'f a part of the framework. Fig. 6 is a'top plan view of the signature-tilters and means'for operating them. Fig. 71s an elevation4 fromL the left handof Fig. v1, showing the principal parts illustratedtherein. vation and partial section of the partsshown .65 Fig. 8 is a side ele- A in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the signature-tilters and their. rock-shaft, and Fig. 10 is a cross-section 0f the same at fr w of Fig. 9. Fig.

11 shows the gripper-jaw-operating rod detached. Fig. 12 shows the auxiliary rockshaft and connections to drive the gripperoperating rod. Fig.- 13 is a side elevation Yof .the gripper-operatingv arm and` the finger.

Fig. 1.4 is a front elevation of the gage-lever,

showing theadjustable plates with which the lingerl of Fig. 13 contactsin detectingimperfect signatures or sheets; and Fig. 15is a side elevation ofthe same and section of the shaft to which it is mounted. Fig. 16 is a section through the main rock-shaft and its auxiliary shaft and elevation of anarm vconnecting the. same.v Fig. `.17 is a front elevation of the tilting levers, their arbor, and'spring; and Fig.

18 a side elevation of the same and cross-sec- Y tionof the shafts connected therewith.

In the several figures of thedrawings, Av ,represents the mainbodyof the gatheringmachine, and Al bracket-arms rising therefrom and connected thereto, both of said parts heini;l secured to and supported by leg-frames A25!` A4 and A5 are adjustable loearingsatthe,`

upperends'of said bracket-arms for the rock- I. shaft AG. (See especially Figs. 1 and 2.) On thisl rock-shaft A6 the lever B and ,the arms C are loosely mounted, while thegripper-lever D, auxiliary arm F, and the arm E are fixed 4on said auxiliary shaft A6. These parts Vare hereinafter particularly described.

In Figs. 1, 7 and 8, D represents the main gripper-lever, which is a device of elongated structure rigidly secured to and depending from the rock-shaft A2, and the same is provided with a gripper-jaw D2, fixed thereto and secured in place by a screw D22. This gripper-jaw is formed with an upward curve on the under edge and a bent-up point D22. The swinging gripper-jaw D12 is pivotally connected to and supported from the jaw D2 by the pin D12, and said gripper-jaw D12 is along its upper edge formed with a downward curve and a downward-bent point D21, and it in turn is secured to a rod D3 at the pivot-pin D11.

In Figs. 1, 7, 8, and 13, D22 is an arm pivoted at D to a hub of the gripper-lever D, and the same is constructed with pivot ends D5 and D11 and with a prolongation or rigid gage-arm D12, having at its free end and at right angles thereto a finger D12.-

In Figs. 1, 7, and 8 the rod D2, pivoted to the outer end of the gripper-jaw D12, is at its upper end provided with a recess D21, receiv- .ing the lower end of the rod D1. The tubular or recessed end of this rod D2 is provided with opposite slots D22, in which is a pin D2, passing through the rod D1, and D12 is a fixed pin passing through the body of the rod D2, and it and the pin D2 are at their ends each provided with a hook D22, and there are springs D2, one only of which is shown in Fig. 7, connected at their ends to the respective ends of the pins D2 and D12 for the purpose of holding the rod D2 in a fixed position to the rod D1 to prevent the separation of said parts. The lower end of the rod D1 is provided with threads D21, and a cap D1 screws upon this rod, and the operation of this screw-cap D1 alters the combined lengths of the rods D2 and D1 in relation to one another to adjust the grippers for signatures or paper of different thieknesses, and when such adjustment is effected the cap is secured in place by the lock-nut D2. The rod D1 is pivoted to the arm D22 by the pin or stud D22. (See Fig. 8.)

In Figs. 1, 7, 8, and 11, D11 is a connectingrod secured at one end to the lever D22 bya pivot-pin D12. The upper end of this rod is screw-threaded at D22, and a nut D21 is movable along this threaded end and is turned to apply more or less pressure to a spring D21, through which this rod passes, the lower end of the spring bearing against the block D12 at the lower end of the threaded portion D22 of the rod. At one side of the block D12 there extends a post D22, which passes through and turns in the arm F12, the movement being sufiicient to allow the block and rod D22 to remain in a vertical position when the arm F swings the auxiliary shaft F and arm F12 through the medium of the rock-shaft A2 or the auxiliary shaftF is rocked by the aid of the arm F2, through the medium of the rod F1, frictional roll F2, and arm F2, which latter is pivoted at F1, the roll being held in contact with the face of the cam F12, Fig. 2, by aid of a spring F2, these latter parts being shown in dotted lines.

In the several figures, B is a lever loosely mounted on the rock-shaft A2 and having a curved part or prolongation B2, which supports the gage-plates B2 and B1. These latter plates are provided with slots B2 and are secured to the curved part B2 by screws B2, and they are adjustable toward and from one another by said means to increase or lessen the diameter of the aperture or slot B1, through which the gage-finger D12 is adapted to pass.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3,1) represents companion arms secured at hubs C and loosely mounted on the rock-shaft A2, through the respective ends of which arms pass support-bars C2, which extend from end to end of the machine and are set to stop and start the gathering-machine.

In Fig. 2, K is a vertically-placed shaft supported in bearings A11, which at its lower end is provided with abrake-shoe K and adjacent thereto with a belt-shifting arm K2, which moves the belt V on and off a pulley corresponding to the pulley A12. A grooved cam K2, secured to the shaft K, receives a stud and roller A12 from the block A12, which block is secured to the frame A of the machine, and

the rotation of this shaft K and the cam K2 95 causes a rise and fall thereof, which act to raise and lower the brake-shoe K to and from the surface of the pulley A12 whenever the shaft K is operated by a crank-arm K1 and a connecting-rod K2, through the medium of an arm K1. This arm K1 is pivoted at K2 to the bracket-frame A and pivotally connected at K2 to the rod K2, and said arm K1 is provided with a recess or seat K2 and a curved and elevated finger portion K12. The rock-shaft A2 in the several figures oseillates and swings the gripper-lever D and auxiliary arm F', and the operation of said rockshaft is effected by arm E and connecting-rod E2, pivotally connected at E bya shaft A2, on which isa disk A2, connected to the lower end of the rod E2 by a fianged stud E2.

In Figs. 1, 6, 9, 10, 17, and 18, I2 represents companion finger-levers for tilting or lifting the advancing or foremost edges of the signatures H after the suckers O have been operated and have drawn the lowermost or bottom signature H2 down, as shown in Fig. 1. By means of these finger-levers the weight of the signatures is removed or taken ofi", making less labor for the grippers to perform. These finger-levers I2 are provided with prolongations or arms I1 and with hook ends I2, which contact with the under side of the signature. They are loosely mounted upon a shaft l2 in arms I', connected to the rock-shaft G.

I1 is a compound spring surrounding the shaft I2, extending in opposite directions, with a center loop passing over a pin I2 and with the respective free ends I2 of said spring IOO llO

pressed against the back or under side of the ger-levers oscillate with the rock-shaft G,

which is supported by a bracket G, Fig. 2,'

and is operated by an eccentric-pin G3 of the .cam F13, through the medium ofthe connecting-rod G3 and arm G3. Fig. 18 shows the position of the iinger-leverswhen not in contact with the signature and at which time thel spring I7 is in evidence to swing the fingers,

while Fig. 10 shows the position of said iinger-levers when in contact with the signatures and at which time the spring is under tension.

In Figs. 1 and 5, J isv a post secured by a bolt J to the bracket-frame A and serving to prevent the signatures H being drawn out unless rst drawn down by the suckers, and

`in these figures L represents a spring with its lowerend connected to the post J by rivets J3 and the free upper end of which extends forward andiperforms the function of gradually forcing down the signatures against the In the drawings I have illustrated only one set of` grippers and other associated and coacting devices of the machine; but in practice the full machine will bebuiltto handle as many sets of signatures as. maybe necessary tofform books or magazines of any size, it ybeing'understmd that each set of grippers and -associated devices is substantially independent of-each other set. Instead of the plates B3and B1 being vsecured to the lever B i kthey can be attached to the bar C3; but as the top of the lever B acts as a signal to designate the-place at which the stoppage of the machine was brought about I prefer to construct the machine as shown.

The` operation is substantially as follows: A

series of superimposed signatures or sheets H are placed in the receptacle therefor, as shown in Fig. l, the lever D being in position on the dotted line The machine is then started by pushing the upper end of the lever C to the left. This operation brings the lower end of thelever C and rod C2 into the seat K3, swinging the lever K7, turning the rod K and the cam K3, raising the brake K', moving the belt-shifter K3, and starting the machine. 1

The gripperlever D then advances vwith the gripper jaw D12 open. Simultaneously a sucker O is swung up by the rock-shaft O against the lowermost signature H3, the suction is applied, and the sucker takes the ksignature and drawsthe same down in time' for the advancing gripper-jaws to catch it.A In the position of the grippersat this moment the armD33, its prolongation D13, and the iinger D13are in the position shown in dotted lines m3, Fig. 1. The auxiliary shaft F is then turned through the medium of the cam F13 and its'connectipg parts, bringing the arm F13 up gripper-lever D is then swung back to the dotted position m3, and in this movement if a sheet or signature of the predetermined thickness has been engaged by the grippers the finger D13 will pass through the aperture B7 and the movements of the machine will not be arrested; but if the grippers haveengaged a signature or sheet that is thicker than the predetermined thickness the finger D13 will stop on the surface of the plate B3 and the movement of the gripper-levers will at once swingthe lever B and cause the upper end of the same to come in contact with the bar C3 of the lever C to bring the parts of said lever into the full-line position Fig. 2 and effect the oper- The suction is ation of the correlated devices, as hereinbefore described, and cause the machine yto stop at once. Likewise, should the signature or sheet be thinner than the predetermined thickness the finger B13 will pass'by or over the aperture BI and come against the plate B1, and this will in like manner swing the lever B, causing the same to contact with the bar C2 to swing the lever C also into the position Fig.l 2 with the correlated devices and at once stop the machine. difference whether the signature or the sheet is thicker or thinner than the predetermined thickness which is necessary for the finger D13 to pass through the aperture B7, as in either event the machine will be immediately stopped, as hereinbefore described. If a sheet It will therefore make no IOO or signature of the predetermined thickness has been engaged and been drawn away from the pile of superimposedsignatures or sheets when the gripper-lever D swings back into the dotted-line position m3, the auxiliary shaft has again turned in the opposite direction to actuate the parts and open the gripper-jaw D12 and cause the signature to drop upon other gathered signatures H3 iu the raceway A3. As the suckers O drawdown each of the signatures or sheets the tilting levers or parts I3 advance, and the hook ends I3 extend under the remaining signatures, as in Fig. 1. The oscillation of the rock-shaft vGr -then raises the arms I and partsf connected therewith, causing the foremost or advancing edges ofthe signatures to be raised. The parts I3 are again swung back before the neXt advance movement of thesuckers. The path of movement of the finger D13 of the gage-arm D15 over the plates. B3 and B1 and through the recess B,7 is indicated by the curved dotted line w3, in which the finger` D13 rises on the inside of the plates B3 and B4, passes over the top, and then'down on the outside and through the opening B7.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that when the grippers have taken a signature o'r sheet that varies from the predetermined thickness and the rods D3 and D4 and the gage-arm D15 and the finger D16 have been actuated thereby to engage and swing the lever B to cause the same to come foreibly against one of the bars C2 and eHeet the stopping of the machine the upper end of a lever B will be elevated and in position be above the other levers B and that this position will act as a signal to the attendant looking along the line of the levers, enabling said attendant to at once locate the place of disturbance and error.

I claim as my inventionl. In a signature-gatherer, the combination With a stopping and starting mechanism and a signature-gripper, of an adjustable device intermediate of said mechanism and gripper and actuated and controlled by the gripper and exercising a control on the said mechanism, whereby Variations from the predetermined thickness of the signatures or sheets act upon the intermediate device for their detection and stop the machine.

2. In a signature-gatherer, the combination with a stopping and starting mechanism, and a signature-gripper, of means for adjusting the closed relation of the gripper-jaws in proportion to the thickness of the signature or sheet, a device intermediate of the stopping and starting mechanism and gripper, actuated and controlled by the latter and exercising a control on the former device, whereby variations from the predetermined thickness of the signature or sheet act upon the intermediate device for their detection and stop the machine.

3. In a signature-gatherer, the combination with a stopping and starting mechanism and a signature-gripper, of means for adjusting the closed relation of the gripper-jaws in proportion to the thickness of the signature or sheet, a part movable with the gripper, a lever having a part adjustable and coaeting with said movable part, and which parts are intermediate of the stopping and starting mechanism and gripper, whereby variations from the predetermined thickness of the signatures or sheets act upon the part movable with the gripper to shift the position of the same and cause the engagement thereof with the adjustable part of the lever to swing the same and stop the machine.

4. In a signature-gatherer, the combination with a stopping and starting mechanism and a signature-gripper, of a gripper-lever, devices for swinging the same, a rod D3 pivoted to the movable gripper-jaw, a rod D4 engaging the rod D3 in an adjustable relation, means for moving the rods D3 DA1 to open and close the grippers, and which means bear a pivotal relation to the gripper-lever, and coaeting devices-associated with the devices for opening and closing the gripper-jaws, and with the stopping and starting mechanism whereby variations from the predetermined thickness of the signatures or sheets cause the engagement of these coaeting devices for the detection of errors in the said predetermined thickness and stop the machine.

5. In a signature-gatherer, the`combination with a stopping and starting mechanism and a signature-gripper, of a gripper-lever, devices for swinging the same, a rod D pivoted to the movable gripper-jaw, a rod D4 engaging the rod D3 in an adjustable relation, means for moving the rods D3 D1 to open and close the grippers and which means bear a pivotal relation to the gripper-lever, a gage-arm Dl5 and a finger D16 at the free end thereof, a lever B loosely mounted on the support oi the gripper-lever and having a curved part B2, superimposed plates mounted upon the curved part of said lever and having an adjustable relation to one another so as to produce between them a variable aperture whereby with the movements of the machine the finger D6 is adapted to pass through the aperture with the engagement of the grippers of each signature or sheet of the predetermined thickness, but with variations of such thickness the said finger stops upon the surface of either ot' said plates and immediately swings the lever B to actuate the stopping devices and bring the machine to a state of rest.

6. In a signature-gathering machine, the combination with a' gripper-lever D, a jaw D fixed thereto and a jaw Dl2 pivoted to the fixed jaw, of a rod D3, a rod D" having an adjustable relation with the rod D, an arm l):m to which the rod D4 is pivoted, and said arm pivoted to the gripper-lever D, a gage-arm DU forming a prolongation of' the arm 1)0, a finger D16 at the free end ofthe arm D, a rod D17 pivotally connected to the arm Di, means connected to and for operating the gripperlever D and the rod D, and devices associated with the arm DI and the finger Dl and coaeting therewith and engaged thereby when the grippers have taken a signature or sheet of greater or less than the predetermined thickness, and which devices are operated thereby for stopping the machine.

7. In a signature-gathering machine, the combination with a gripper-lever D, a jaw D fixed thereto and a jaw D12 pivoted to the fixed jaw, of a rod D, a rod D4 having an adjustable relation with the rod Di, an arm D'l" to which the rod D4 is pivoted and said arm pivoted to the gripper-lever D, a gage-arm D1B forming a prolongation of the arm D30, a finger D1 at the free end of the arln D, a rod D17 pivotally connected to the arm Dil", means connected to and for operating the gripper-lever D and the rod D, a level` B I .loosely mounted upon the shaft of the grip- .per-levery and having a curved part B2, supery imposed plates B3 and B2, means for connecting the same to Vsaid vcurved part in an adinstable 'relation toward and from one another so as to vary the area of the aperture B7 between their juxtaposed edges, and which area is adjusted `for the nger B10 to pass through -according to the predetermined thickness of the signature or sheet, substantially as setA forth. l

.8.. In a signature-gathering machine, the

combination with the gripper-,lever D, of.

gripper-jaws D2 and D12 pivotally connected and supported by the gripper-lever, means for operating said jaws, and means for adjusting` the relation of said operating devices tothe ymovable gripper-jaws in proportion to the thickness of the signatures or sheets. v

9. In asignature gathering machine, the

combination with the gripper-lever D, of

gripper-jaws D2 and D12 pivotally connected andsupported by the gripper-lever, means for operating said jaws, devices extending and z5- interposed between the end of the movable gripper-jaw and, the means for operating the same and having an adjustable relation to onel another, and means under tension for holding Said-devices in their. relation to one another.v 10,. In a signature-gathering machine, thel combination with 'the lgripper-lever D, of gripper-jaws D2 and D12 pivotally connected j and supported by the lgripper-lever, means for .combination with thel gripper-lever D, of

operating vsaid jaws, a rod pivotally connected to the free end of the movable gripper-jaw and having a recess at the opposite end, a rodconnected to the devices for operating the grippers and at its free end passing into the hollow portion of the aforesaid rod and screwthreaded at its free end, a screw-cap upon the threaded end of said rod, and a lock-nut for holding the'same so as to regulate the'adjustable relation of the two rods, and means for maintaining the rods in a fixed relation to one another; n

l1. In a signature-gathering machine, the

, able relation ofthe two rods, a pin passing through thesolid portion of the rod connected to the movable gripper-jaw, a pin passing through the threaded end of .the rod connected with the movable mechanism and also passing through grooves in the hollow portion of the aforesaid rod, and means at their ends connected to the ends of the respective pins `for maintaining the rodsin their relationy to one another.

12. In a` signature-gathering machine, the

combination with the gripper-lever D, the rock-shaft A0 upon which the same is mounted and fixed, and means for operating the same,

Aof an arm D30 pivoted to said gripper-lever,

rods having adjustable and connected relations with one -another and extending from said arm D20 to the free end of the movable gripper-jaw, arod D17 pivotally connected to said arm D30, and means for actuating v.the same whereby the gripper-levers are swung -and the jaws opened and closed.

13. In a signature-gathering machinefthe combination with the gripper-lever D, the

,rock-shaft A0 upon which the same is mounted Aand fixed, and means for operating the same,

of an arm D20 pivoted to said gripper-lever and having a prolongation or arm D15 and a finger D10 at the Vextremeeend thereof, rods having adjustable and connected relations with one another and extending from said arm D20 Lto the free end of'the movable gripper-jaw, a

rod D17 pivotally connected to said arm D20,

4and means for actuatingthe samewherebyl .the gripper-levers are swung and the jaws ,opened `and closed, a stoppingA and starting mechanism, and a device adapted to actuate the same and having parts contacting with the said finger D1G when the grippers engage a sheet or signature greater or less in thickness than the predetermined thickness.

14.A In a signature-gathering machine, the combination with the shaft A0 and the gripper-lever D, and means for operating the same, of. the arms C, the bars C2 at the respective ends thereof, gripper-jaws, means for operating the same and for adjusting the same in proportion to the thickness of the signature or sheet, a lever B having a prolongation B2 and adjustable plates B2, B1 on the part B2, means for actuating the gripper-lever, and means actuated by the gripper-lever and adapted to pass over the surfaces of said plates B2, B2 and to pass free thereof under ordinary circumstances and with a sheet of greater or less than the predetermined thickness to engage dthe same'and swing the lever B to operate the arms C for stopping the machine.

IOO

l5. In a signature-gathering machine, the

combination with the shaft A0 and the gripper-lever D and means for operatin g the same, of thel arms C, the bars C2 at the respective ends thereof, gripper-jaws, means for operating the same and for adjusting the same in proportion to the thickness of the signature or sheet, a lever B having a prolongation B2 and adjustable' plates B3, Bt on the part B2,

means for actuating the Vgripper-lever, an arm having a finger at the free end thereof turned at right angles thereto and actuated by the movement of the gripper lever and jaws.

16. In a signature-gathering machine, the

combination with a gripper-lever, ,f rripperjaws, means for operating and regulating the same, of a lever B and devices for contacting therewith, a lever C, bars C2 at the ends thereof, a cam-lever K7 adapted to engage one of said bars C2 a vertical shaft K, devices intermediate of the cam-lever and shaft for revolving the shaft, a device for raising and lowering the shaft, abelt-shifter and a brakeshoe connected to the said shaft, and a pulley and power-shaft.

17. In a signature-gathering machine, the combination with a superimposed pile of signatures and a support therefor, of a post J, a spring L and a bracket H, the spring L being free at its upper end and bearing against one edge of the signatures.

18. In a signaturegathering machine, a rock-shaft G, arms connected therewith, a short shaft carried thereby, nger-levers I3 loosely mounted on said short shaft, prolongations I4 of said fingers and hook ends I5 and a spring around said short shaft and engaging a pin thereof with the respective ends bearing against the back of said finger-levers, substantially as set forth.

y 19. In a signature-gatherer, the combination with a stopping and starting mechanism and pivoted jaws coming at opposite sides of a signature or sheet and forming a signaturegripper, of adevice intermediate of said mechanism and gripper and actuated and controlled by the latter device and exercising a control on the former device, whereby variations from the predetermined thickness of the signatures or sheets act upon the intermediate device for their detection and stop the machine.

20. In a signature-gatherer, the combination with a stopping and starting mechanism and pivoted jaws coming at opposite sides of a signature or sheet and forming a signaturegripper, of means for adjusting the closed relation of the gripper-jaws in proportion to the thickness of the signature or sheet, a device intermediate of the stopping and starting mechanism and gripper, actuated and controlled by the latter and exercising a control on the former device, whereby variations from the predetermined thickness of the signature or sheet act upon the intermediate device for their detection and stop the machine.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 6th day of August, A. D. 1900.

' CHARLES A. JUENGST.

Witnesses:

E. T. THOMAS, HENRY J oHNsoN. 

